jhené aiko, mourning doves.

Although my words told him to leave, I shut my front door behind me and walked up to my car. I left Raheem in the room and just made my way out the house as soon as I had said those words.

Starting the car I reverse and head out, the road was open and I really appreciated it. I wasn't sure if I wanted Raheem to actually go back home, I'm not even sure why I'm suddenly distancing myself.

He had killed someone, and not just anyone it was Madeline's mate. He killed her mate and now she's leeching onto mine. It felt cruel towards me, what had I done to deserve this? Why would the Moon Godess have it be this way?

I could never imagine Raheem being that violent, I knew sometimes Alpha's needed to be tough but... it was so out of character for him.

And Khalil? Why was he so angry at the Royals, was it because they took him away from Tshiamo? Whatever he has planned certainly would not be the right way to get back into her life.

I bring the car to a hault and lay my head on the steering wheel, I suppose I was a bit sweaty or oily because my forehead slipped and landed on the hooter. The car let out a loud hoot and I yelped as I moved my head back.

When my eyes landed on the gate a few feet away from me I panicked, oh my goddess, of all the places I could've stopped for a breather. Goodness gracious, how did I even get here.

Oh my goddess, he's coming out!

"Lerato?"

My eyes got even wider and I pushed the start button only for the car to not start. Just as I was about to rather stick the key in he opened the passenger door. Why hadn't I locked that?

His eyes searched my face before he asked, "What's wrong? Did Raheem do something?"

I wanted to tell him it was none of his business but my wolf was crying out for his and I know it got through to it because his orbs were already swirling with bits of gold. He wasn't fully in control, his wolf needed to know what had upset me.

Mine caved and I bet my eyes were swirling with bit of gold too, "I... He told me what happened."

His body froze for a moment, "Everything?" His eyes were back to his own brown.

"I would think so, he... he killed a mate! He killed someone!" It wasn't the biggest deal, Alpha wolves often did kill, however, "He ruined everything for me... for us."

Micah visibly relaxed, "I respect him for telling you... I'm sorry I didn't, I'm sorry I didn't fully explain to you why I did what I did."

I turned my head away, "It doesn't excuse you, Micah."

I saw him lower his head, "I know... I'm sorry, if I could take it back, I would."

My head snapped in his direction, "But you had the chance. You came to me at the airport, why do that if you were still going to go ahead with it?"

"You didn't stay, Maddy wasn't supposed to know I was coming, she wasn't even supposed to know about you. I was ready, I was prepared to break everything off with her and come clean."

"What?"

Unshed tears shining in his eyes, he repeated himself, "I wanted to be with you, Lerato. Had you just stayed that day, I wouldn't have gone through with it."

My heart constricts as I look into his eyes, trying to find any signal that would tell me he's lying. Anything at all.

When I don't respond he looks out the windscreen, the Royal City staring back at him, "I still want to be with you... but things are different now, I went through with the Bounding... there's nothing I can do about it now."

"Of course, King Motheo's image cannot be ruined." I roll my eyes, "You can get out my car now your Majesty."

"Lerato, it's not like that. All I mean is —"

I shook my head, "I'm not interested, Motheo, it's fine."

His face looked pained, "What?"

"I said it's fine, I'm not interested anyway. Just get —"

He shook his head vigorously, obviously displeased with the answer I had given him, "No, what did you call me?"

I muttered obscenities under my breath as I reached over to the passenger side and open the door for him, "Get out."

◇

Hours pass before I return home and once I do, I no longer see the car that Raheem had rented and my heart hurts. I can't believe he actually left.

I don't know what I expected really, of course he wouldn't be here when I returned. Turning off the engine I can't help the sense of dread I have for telling him to leave.

I make my way to the front door and close it behind me. Letting out a sigh I make my way to my bedroom, my mind spinning with thoughts of what Raheem had told me and my conversation with Motheo.

I might as well get used to calling him that, there's no use indulging him in his second life fantasy now that it's over.

I decided to step into the shower and ready myself for bed, just as I finished slipping into my silky nightdress the clock struck seven.

It was early for me to be calling it a night but with all that had transpired today I think it's okay if I switch off for a little bit.

Slipping underneath the duvet I let out a blissful sigh, nothing quite beats getting into bed after a bath. The refreshingly clean feeling is definitely unmatched.

I shut my eyes and let sleep consume me.

I'm not sure how long I was actually asleep for or if I even was at all until my ringtone sounded. It was almost deafening, slicing through the night's silence.

I answered it still blinded by sleep, "Hel —"

"Lerato, where's my brother?"

I pulled the phone away from my ear, bringing it to my face to read the name, "Khalil? I don't know where Raheem is, I told him to go back home."

"No, no. Somethings wrong, you have to find him Lerato, he's in danger."

Just as I had sat up straight someone started banging on my door. The banging was accompanied by the screams of my name, I jumped out of bed and ran towards the front door.

The voice sounded like Raheem's, worried from his brother's warnings I wasted no time in getting to the door and pulling it open.

Just as I swing it open Khalil asks, "Is it him?"

My eyes land on Raheem's bloody figure and a scream escapes me, the phone drops to the floor as I immediately reach over to bring him inside.

'Kea, Kea please help me. Please, I need you to come to my house. Bring any supplies you have. Please hurry.'

I know he'll be alright because he's an Alpha but the tears still sting my eyes and my wolf howls out in pain and fury.

I help him to the couch and sit him down once I've laid a blanket on them, "Oh my goddess, Raheem, what happened?" I ask him as soon as I return with my medical kit.

He removes his shirt and lets me rub some alcohol on his wounds, with the shirt off I see that they're from silver. I'll have to take him to the hospital, Kea will tell me that as soon as she sees them too.

"This is silver, Raheem, I can't treat it here. Neither can the pack doctor, I have to take you to the hospital."

Raheem hasn't said a single word since I opened the door, did they drug him too? I had to get him out of here, 'Kea, meet me at the hospital rather.'

Her response is quick, 'Already here, ambulance should be outside.'

I help Raheem up and into the ambulance, they sit him on the gurney once in the truck and begin assessing him. As they're checking his eyes I try to get something out of him.

"Who did this to you, Raheem?"

He coughs and some blood trickles out, landing on his chin. He looks at me briefly, his eyes looking anything but like his own.

"Motheo."